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AARP SURVEY: Rhode Islanders Want to Age at Home, but Many Worry They Won't Be Able To

Housing affordability and safe streets are major concerns for residents 45+; strong majorities support age-friendly action

John Martin,

AARP Rhode Island

Published August 27, 2026

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Rhode Island residents age 45 and older overwhelmingly want to remain independent and in their communities as they age, but a new AARP Vital Voices survey finds that many are worried housing costs, transportation and inadequate community infrastructure could make that increasingly difficult.

Eighty-eight percent of Rhode Island residents 45+ say staying in their own home as they get older is extremely or very important, and 87% say independently getting to the places they need to go is extremely or very important. Yet two in five, or 40%, are not fully confident they will be able to age in place.

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Affordability is a major concern:

66% are extremely or very concerned about being able to afford to remain in their home as they age, up from 57% in 2023.
57% worry about finding affordable housing if they need to downsize while remaining in their community.
49% are concerned about being able to afford modifications that would make their homes easier to live in as they age.

Concerns are especially pronounced among renters. Three in four renters, or 75%, are concerned about affording their current home as they age, while four in five, or 80%, are concerned about finding affordable housing if they need to downsize within their community.

These concerns will be on the minds of many people voting in the September 9 Election. Candidates answered key questions in AARP Rhode Island’s Video Voter Guide.

“Rhode Islanders are telling us very clearly what they want: the ability to remain independent and connected to their communities as they grow older,” said AARP Rhode Island State Director Catherine Taylor. “But wanting to age in place and having the housing, transportation and community infrastructure needed to make that possible are two very different things. These findings show where Rhode Island must close that gap.”

Safe and accessible streets are another major concern

Three in four Rhode Island residents 45+, or 76%, are extremely or very concerned about having streets that are safe for everyone to use, an increase from 71% in 2023. Nearly two-thirds, or 63%, are concerned about having access to transportation if they are unable to drive.

Although 89% of respondents say they feel safe walking in their community, many say important safety and accessibility features are lacking. Only 46% say their community has safe sidewalks accessible to people using wheelchairs or other mobility devices, and just 47% say pedestrian crossings are clearly marked with audio and visual signals. Sixty-seven percent say their streets and intersections are well-lit.

Walking, transportation and proximity to essential destinations also leave room for improvement. More than half of respondents, or 54%, rate their community as fair or poor when it comes to having affordable housing within walking distance of a downtown or village center. Forty-five percent give fair or poor ratings to protected bicycle lanes, and 37% say the same about streets or walking paths that allow people of all ages and abilities to walk safely.

Public bus service is available in the communities of 74% of respondents, but only 23% of those residents say they would be likely to consider using it to get around. Among residents with bus service, 30% rate the service as fair or poor and 32% give fair or poor ratings to bus-stop accessibility and maintenance.

Strong support for action

Rhode Islanders are not simply identifying problems. The survey finds broad support for state action:

85% agree Rhode Island should build new housing units designed so older adults and people with disabilities can get around more easily.
83% support a proposal requiring 20% of the units in new state- or federally funded multi-unit housing projects to be designed so people with mobility issues can navigate them easily. Support includes 92% of Democrats, 77% of Republicans and 80% of independents.
81% say they would be more or somewhat more likely to vote for a candidate who supports making Rhode Island an age-friendly state by enacting policies that support residents’ health, well-being and independence as they age. Support includes 90% of Democrats, 67% of Republicans and 82% of independents.

“These aren’t simply issues for older Rhode Islanders,” added Taylor. “Housing people can afford, streets people can safely navigate and transportation that keeps residents connected make Rhode Island a better place to live at every age. The strong support across political parties also shows that making our state more age-friendly is a shared Rhode Island priority.”

About the Survey

Interviews were conducted with 715 Rhode Island residents age 45 and older by landline, cell phone, online and text-to-web between April 27 and May 13, 2026.

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